connor trinneer tom cruise

• Comic Books
• Premiere Photos
• Special Event Photos
• Rock/Pop/Etc.
• Soundtracks
• The Dork Side

Home » Connor-Trinneer-Exclusive-Interview-Star-Trek-55

Latest Buzz

STAR TREK: Actor Connor Trinneer on the franchise’s 55th birthday – Exclusive Interview

The actor also talks about playing george w. bush.

55 YEAR MISSION TOUR |©2021 Creation Entertainment

STAR TREK is celebrating its fifty-fifth birthday this year. To celebrate, Creation Entertainment – which itself is turning fifty – is throwing a five-day convention at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, August 11-15. There will be over one hundred guests, including William Shatner, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Jeri Ryan, Kelsey Grammer, Shohreh Agdashloo, and Brent Spiner. There will be COVID protocols in place; for further details, go to creationent.com.

Among the panelists is Connor Trinneer, who played Commander Charles “Trip” Tucker for four seasons, 2001-2005, on STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE . Since then, the actor from Washington State has had arcs on STARGATE: ATLANTIS and (as a different character) STARGATE: ORIGINS , as well as AMERICAN ODYSSEY , RILEY PARRA , 9-1-1 , and a leading role in Season 2 of THE PURGE . Trinneer’s feature work includes UNBELIEVABLE!!! , DARK HARBOR , and a portrayal of ‘70s-era George W. Bush in AMERICAN MADE .

Trinneer gets on the phone for an exclusive talk about the legacy of STAR TREK , plus portraying a real-life public figure.

ASSIGNMENT X: When you were working on STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE, were you thinking, “Someday, STAR TREK will be fifty-five years old, and there will be a celebration”?

CONNOR TRINNEER: At the time, it didn’t cross my mind, but I’m certainly happy that it’s here, and that the lifespan of the franchise just continues to go.

AX: How did you feel when, after a five-year gap following the end of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE, they started making more STAR TREK movies, and the CBS All-Access – now Paramount+ – launched a bunch of new series?

TRINNEER: I wasn’t surprised at all. I think that the longevity of STAR TREK is well-proven. And I was happy to see that they’re putting different STAR TREK crew/ship-based series out, things like STAR TREK: PICARD . I just think it’s great.

AX: How have you enjoyed working on the convention circuit? I mean, again, when you became an actor, were you thinking, “And someday, I will have fans, and this is what the interactions will be like”? Did you think about that at all, and if you did, has it been what you expected?

TRINNEER: Oh, that never dawned on me when I started out professionally. It’s just been a gift that keeps on giving. My history with conventions – my first one, of course, I was quite nervous for, but the fans were so open and giving and supportive. And then as it progressed, I really enjoy them. I think that the opportunity to be face to face with fans that attend the conventions – I’ve met some people who became dear friends, I’ve met some people that I’ve seen over and over again, I’ve gotten to travel the world, and gosh, even listing those few things, how could you not love them?

CONNOR TRINEER | photo courtesy Connor Trineer

To be quite honest, during this last year and a half, when we’ve been unable to have them, while we’ve had virtual conventions, that’s not really the same. It’s just nice to have the interactions with people, not only to discuss STAR TREK , but to discuss each other’s lives, and to find out what people do, and what they’re up to.  I get a lot out of them.

AX: When people talk to you about your STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE character Trip, what do they usually want to know?

TRINNEER: Well, the first thing is almost always that they’re either upset or wish that he hadn’t died in the finale. They often wonder what he would be doing if he hadn’t been killed off. Usually, when we wind up talking about the character, they speak of their affinity for him, and their fondness for the character.

AX: Are you excited about doing an in-person convention again with this fifty-fifth anniversary? Are you concerned at all because of the COVID variants?

TRINNEER: Yeah, I’m a little concerned. I’m also excited. I personally feel like we need to carefully begin to get on with our lives, and I believe in vaccination. I think we need to figure out the best, safest ways in which we can carry on, and not feel that sense of being locked down. It’s difficult.

AX: Are there other panelists who you are looking forward to meeting, who you haven’t met before?

TRINNEER: I’d like to meet Kelsey Grammer [laughs].

AX: Since you’ve been involved in a couple of different iterations of STARGATE, do you also do STARGATE conventions?

TRINNEER: I do. There are less of those, but sometimes I’m brought on.

AX: Are there PURGE conventions? Would you want to go to those if there were?

TRINNEER: Those would be interesting. Yeah. I would go to those. Typically, conventions that are horror-specific [don’t include STAR TREK/STARGATE ] the genre, but yeah, absolutely, I’d go.

AX: Horror people are lovely people, generally speaking. I really enjoyed THE PURGE TV show.

TRINNER: I thought the second season in particular was, not as a result of me being in it, but exploring the year in between [Purge nights] was an interesting take on it.

AX: You played George Bush in the 2017 movie AMERICAN MADE, which starred Tom Cruise as real-life pilot Barry Seal. When you’re playing a real living person, do you have to approach that differently than you would playing a fictional person?

TRINNEER: Yeah. You have to do a lot more external research, especially when you’re playing someone as visible as he has been, as well as that people have real specific notions about.

AX: What was the most important thing you learned in order to play Bush?

TRINNEER: Well, when I first was doing the research, the most obvious thing that began to show up on YouTube were the comics’ take on him, a lot of Will Ferrell coming to mind immediately. They are caricatures of him. I did a bit more of a deep dive, and I found that when he would go visit a town, he would walk neighborhoods, and just talk to people, so you could really get a sense of him in his natural environment. What I mean by that is, whenever you saw him at a lectern, that was just a thing, when he was speaking from a teleprompter. You wanted to catch the essence of the guy. So, that was the most useful research to me. There’s nothing I can do about how physically close to him I am in the way that he looked, but I just wanted to get his voice right and his physicality right. And those were two things that I focused on.

AX: And what else, that you’re allowed to talk about, have you been working on lately?

TRINNEER: This summer, I shot a movie called THE WEDDING PACT that will be coming out, I think, in the fall. I am about to start a movie that I have signed an NDA for that I can’t talk about. So, I try to keep busy. I’ve been fortunate to be able to do [unint.] from my home during the pandemic. But production has ramped back up, and everybody’s being very careful, and in fact, I start shooting this coming Monday, and then head off to Vegas later in the week.

AX: And do you feel any sense of momentousness about STAR TREK reaching fifty-five and that it’s being celebrated, just in terms of the social impact of the show, and that it has not ceased to be relevant in all that time?

TRINNEER: Oh, I’m awfully proud of being part of the legacy of it, and its message, and I think STAR TREK has always been a bit more than just entertainment or a TV show. I think the reason that it’s lasted as long as it has is because of its message of exploring our humanity and our humanness resonates with people. I think STAR TREK exposes that we’re all fallible, but when you make your best, honest effort, and have a code of honor, and you show that, that that’s a wonderful message for people to hear and see, and it resonates, and has resonated more so in the recent past than maybe it did than even when I was doing it. That was during a different time. 9/11 had just happened [when STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE began]. I think its message is important, and needed, always.

Follow us on Twitter at  ASSIGNMENT X Like us on Facebook at  ASSIGNMENT X

Article Source:  Assignment X Article: Exclusive Interview: STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE star on 55 Years of Trek

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Related Posts:

Tags: American Made , Brent Spiner , Connor Trinneer , Creation Entertainment , Exclusive , George Takei , George W. Bush , Jeri Ryan , Kelsey Grammer , Paramount , Shohreh Agdashloo , Star Trek , Star Trek birthday , Star Trek convention , Star Trek: Enterprise , Star Trek: Picard , Stargate , Stargate: Atlantis , Stargate: Origins , The Purge , Walter Koenig , William Shatner , exclusive interview , interview

Leave a Comment

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

Assignment X Poll

Who is the scariest horror icon?

• Art the Clown from TERRIFIER
• Candyman from CANDYMAN
• Chucky from CHILD'S PLAY
• Freddy Krueger from A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
• Jason from FRIDAY THE 13th
• Jigsaw from SAW
• Leatherface from THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
• Michael Myers from HALLOWEEN
• Norman Bates from PSYCHO
• Pinhead from HELLRAISER

View Results

• Polls Archive

News | Reviews | Interviews | Columns | Photos | Videos

Movies | Television | Music | Blu-ray/DVD | Books

Supernatural | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Chuck | Doctor Who | Glee | Fringe | Harry Potter

Scream 4 | Smallville | Spider-Man 4 | Tangled | TRON: Legacy | V

COPYRIGHT © 2010 - 2024, MIDNIGHT PRODUCTIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRIVACY POLICY & TERMS OF USE

• May 3, 2024 | Michelle Yeoh Receives Presidential Medal Of Freedom
• May 3, 2024 | Chances Of Skydance Takeover Of Paramount Fades; Competing Sony Deal Reportedly Unlikely Too
• May 3, 2024 | Podcast: All Access Listens For “Whistlespeak” With Commentary From Mary Wiseman Of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’
• May 2, 2024 | Recap/Review: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Goes On A Spiritual Journey In “Whistlespeak”
• May 1, 2024 | Toronto Stage Used For ‘Discovery’ Renamed “The Star Trek Stage” By Pinewood Studios

INTERVIEW: Connor Trinneer Talks Math, Trip’s Pregnant “Enterprise” Days And “Star Trek: Discovery” Possibilities

| April 3, 2017 | By: Laurie Ulster 22 comments so far

This week, Connor Trinneer is hosting a special Math Encounters event at New York’s National Museum of Mathematics called “ The Math of Khan .”  Mathematician and Trek fan James Grime will be speaking about the fascinating mathematical ideas featured in Star Trek, including a paradox that upset both 20th century mathematicians and 23rd century androids, the mathematics of alien biology, and the most important question of all: When on a dangerous away mission, does the color of your shirt really affect your chances of survival?

Trinneer graciously gave us some of his time to talk about what he expects from the event, and reminisce with us about his days as Chief Engineer Charles “Trip” Tucker on  Enterprise .

The Math of Khan

TrekMovie: How did you get involved with The Math of Khan event?

Connor Trinneer: Well initially I’d met David, who’s one of the board members and founders of the museum. He was in Vegas with his daughter last year, [and I] got to know him a little bit, and then got a call from out of the blue. Cindy, the woman who was organizing this, said they’re doing “The Math of Khan” and would I be interested in doing the intro to this guy’s speech? And I thought, ‘Sure! Why not?’

The funny thing is, most actors are actors because they couldn’t do math.  (laughs) At least I am!

TM: I was just going to ask what your relationship was with math.

CT : Uh … contentious. (laughs)

TM: Did you struggle with it as a kid?

CT: I did yeah, terribly so. But oddly, it skipped a generation, because my son is obsessed with math and science and physics and calculus. And it’s a remarkable thing to watch because he seems to have a sense of understanding that I guess I never had. The older I’ve gotten, the more I can appreciate it, but really, for me,  in terms of getting through school, math was always just…agh…here it comes…an hour of THIS. (laughs)

TM: Do you know what they’re planning for the talk itself? What can you tell us about it?

CT:  I don’t know what this guy’s speech is.  I have a feeling that … there are so many things in culture, science, our lives that Star Trek really introduced, in a way. The way we communicate now, all these things that they were doing, especially in the original series, that didn’t exist, ways in which we can evaluate people in medicine, that I’m sure he’s going to cover. But what I think I’ll do is … one, give my brief history of math in my own personal life (laughs) and share my son’s love for it, and really the parent’s joy in watching somebody do things such as … he’d wake up in the morning, and we have a blackboard in our utility room that he would just fill with these equations, and when he’d get out of the shower he’d do it on the mirror, in the foggy mirror. He probably didn’t understand the totality of the equation itself but it doesn’t matter, it’s the interest.

And I’ve got a couple of anecdotes. You know, the first time I walked into Engineering, which is one of the main sets of any Star Trek show, and you’ve got the nuclear warp core, and all that. And Michael and Denise Okuda , who write the bible for all of the tech for Star Trek , they came down and explained to me how it worked. For a second I was like, “This doesn’t really work-work?” They really diagram the whole thing. It would be one thing to go, “Yeah, this is the engine room,” but they’ve got blueprints, they’ve got, I guess in quotes, “working models.”

They were telling me how the whole warp core works and into the nacelles, and that kind of stuff, and I was blown away and then—I hope I’m not giving everything away from my speech—‘cause then, at the end of it, our lighting designer, Billy, he could tell I was a bit overwhelmed. He was like, “C’mere.” I followed him and he opened this little hatch door on this warp core, which was the size of a really large dump truck. In that was a color wheel with five different gel colors slowly spinning, and light shining on him and he’s like, “That’s your warp core, by the way.” It was like, “Oh. OH! Right! Yeah, okay, I get it!” (laughs) Inside this is kind of a disco dance floor!

TM: That would’ve been fun!

CT:  Right? You’d have to be very short.

The “disco” warp core

Playing George Bush in new Tom Cruise movie

TM:  Tell us about your new movie with Tom Cruise, American Made . You play George W. Bush!

CT: Well, I’ve heard for years, “You should play George W. Bush,” and I’m like, “Shut up.” And you know, when prompted, I can do him, and I went into this audition and sat down and did the scene, and the casting director said, “Do that again.”

I did it again, and she’s like, “Not all the time…” and she points at the tip of her nose: “You can look just like him.” And I said, “Yeah, I’ve heard that.” And she said, “It’s kind of uncanny. I don’t know what’s going to happen here but it’s kind of uncanny.” And I said, “Well, thanks.” You know, at any audition, you do your thing, you walk out, and you try to forget about it.

And then I got it, and was immediately terrified.

Trinneer’s resemblance to President Bush finally pays off

It’s one thing to play somebody that you’re just creating. It’s a whole nother thing to play somebody who everybody, at least in America, has a really specific idea about. Comics have done him, and you can look him up all over the place. And so I did that, I did research on him.

I didn’t know this –when he was in a new city, he would walk the neighborhoods with Secret Service in tow, and just chat with people. And they filmed it, it’s on YouTube . And you really get a sense of what the guy was like. Because if you put anybody in front of a teleprompter, their personality, unless they’re Bill Clinton, disappears. And that’s what I found whenever you saw him speaking to the press, or when he was giving a State of the Union.  So I used these videos of him just engaging with people in the neighborhoods. And he’s an incredibly charming guy, somebody who you’d want to have a beer with.

And then I got there to Atlanta to shoot and I’d had the script for probably a few months at that time. And I said to myself, “I don’t really care who I work with, I’m not intimidated, I know my stuff, I’m an actor and a professional.” And then, the morning of  — we’d gone the night before to have a rehearsal. And there was a scene, there were a couple of scenes with Oliver North, and the head of the DEA, [director] Doug [Liman] and Tom [Cruise] and the rest of the cast, they’re really just breaking apart this scene. They’re tearing it apart and they’re putting it back together, and the writers, they’re furiously rewriting stuff, and I’m thinking to myself, “This is going to be so great. I’ve got a couple of ideas, I’ve got some notes that maybe we could play with, for my turn.” So we spent two hours in there just working the scenes,  and then it had gotten a bit late in the evening, and then it’s, “Let’s go upstairs and do the other scene,” and we go up there, I’m sitting on a bench, and Tom’s character is sitting on the bench, and we do the scene, and I’m all prepared with my ideas and notes, and we do it, and Doug  walks up to me and he goes, “Louder.”

All right, I’ll do it louder. I did it louder. And he’s like, “All right, we’ll see you tomorrow!” And it wasn’t appropriate to go, “Hang on, I’ve got seven or eight notes here.”

So the next morning, I get in the van to go do my scene and all of a sudden I’m feeling nauseous. And I’m like, “You’re nervous.” Then I thought, “Well you’re not going to throw up, are you?” (laughs) I didn’t.

And then we got there and – I have to say I’ve always been a fan of Tom Cruise’s films and his work, but what a great scene partner. What a real joy to be around, I just can’t say enough kind things about my day with him on that movie. He was just a really giving actor, asked me if I was okay with what we were doing, and it reaffirmed the reason, for me, why he’s so good is that he’s a careful owner of his process, and it was great. In fact, all these things that I’d had in my head, we wound up doing. Because we were just trying to work our way through the scene, but we didn’t have the rehearsal time so we just did it on the day. It was great. I hope it’s in the movie, you never know. Nobody’s told me! (laughs)

Tom Cruise in American Made , which co-stars Connor Trinneer as George W. Bush

The acting process: Trip’s pregnancy, death, duplication …

TM: As Trip Tucker, you faced death, loss, romance, being a clone, pregnancy … what was the biggest WTF moment when somebody handed you a script?

CT: A couple of ‘em. Out of the gate, episode three, I was pregnant.

Trip Tucker, pregnant, in “Unexpected”

One thing about playing a man who’s pregnant, you want to get that right as best you can. So I really spent a lot of time thinking about what I knew from some of the things that happen to women when they get pregnant. Some of them weren’t in the script and I had them put them in.

TM: Like what?

CT: Well … when he got emotional when he was eating the breadsticks. That wasn’t in the script, that he starts to cry. (laughs)  And they also put in a scene where he’s talking about how it would be really dangerous for a little one, ‘cause there was an elevator that had been worked on, in Engineering, from one floor to another. And I’d expressed some things, like, “I want him to have real emotional concern for the unknown, such as ‘What if a little kid walked in? What if a little one walked in here and had to shut this hatch? He could cut his finger off!’” I’m not sure that’s the exact dialogue but it was something to that effect.

So that was one of those WTF moments of “What am I gonna do here?” And the other one was when I had to play myself when I was cloned . There had to be some subtle nuances that were different enough that you realized what you were watching wasn’t quite Trip. And that’s the minute work of an actor where you find these things; it didn’t even matter if anybody recognized it, I did. And trying to find the click on the dial that’s one off the original character.

But they were absolute joys to do. Anytime you get an opportunity to really make artistic choices in that way, it’s such a joy.

TM: And the Star Trek shows tend to provide some good opportunities, along with all the technobabble .

CT: Yeah. I get asked a lot: what would you have liked them to do more with your character?  I’m always at a loss for words because I always felt like they handed me so much. And I’d get asked by the producers at the beginning of every year and at the end of every year, what are you looking forward to, at the end of the year, how’d you feel about your character development. I was always so impressed with how they handled him. Because early on the series, I got handed some episodes that if I didn’t do them well, they were probably going to write less for me. I don’t know, but I did hear that pretty quickly, the writers heard my voice—the character—and that made it pretty easy for them to write for me. So at the end of every year, I was always impressed and humbled by the things that they’d thrown my way.

Tucker with his clone, Sim, in “Similitude”

Advice for the  Star Trek: Discovery  team

TM: At the beginning of Enterprise , you guys were breaking new ground, risking canon by taking place before the original series. Everyone out there was so antsy about it, and now Star Trek: Discovery is doing it again. What would you tell them about how to handle the pressure and the responsibility?

CT: I forgot about it all. I was just out there, trying to tell a story. And that’s, at the end of the day, what you’re doing. I mean yes, there’s this outside pressure from the fandom, and the responsibilities for carrying on the message through the canon, but just tell the story. Because it takes care of itself, because it’s Star Trek .

I think it’s time to do another one. It’s been, what ten or eleven years, something like that, and from what I’ve heard, don’t write this in stone, each season will be its own thing in that it’s not going to go necessarily in a linear fashion like this happened and then this happened and then this happened, like most of them did. They may jump years, they may do all sorts of things. But the people involved, it’s such an important franchise for [them], that they’ve got a lot of fingers in that pie to get it right.  Sometimes that can be a bad thing but I think that there’s enough people involved that know what they’re doing that they’ll be in good shape. I’m excited about it.

TM: We are too! So what was the biggest surprise for you when you first became a part of this franchise?

CT:  The conventions! (laughs)

In all honesty, the work is the work. You’re an actor, you go in there, you put on your costume, you create a character, and you go do your thing. But it was the conventions that were the big shocker to me, I didn’t know what to expect.

I, in fact, didn’t do one until it was near my hometown. My first one was in Portland, Oregon—I’m from Kelso, Washington, which is about 44 minutes away—and I did that one because (starts laughing) — because my parents would come and I’d feel like I’d have somebody in the audience that still loved me!

But immediately, I was embraced by the fans, and it was a wonderful experience, and that whole world of the Trekkers … I knew nothing about. Zero. Since then, of course, I’ve become pretty well versed in the whole thing, having done a bunch of ‘em, but yeah, it was the outside stuff of the show that I wasn’t prepared for.

The work is the work.

TM: It’s a whole extra world on top of everything else.

CT:  Yeah! I’d almost say equally as important as the show itself.

Missions: New York 2016

Star Trek in tumultuous times

TM: The show premiered during a tumultuous time, politically. Each show has had its own political era, from the original in the 60s to launching new ones in the late 80s & 90s, to Discovery coming now. Enterprise premiered a few weeks after 9/11. Did it affect the show?

CT: 9/11 changed our show. Hands down. Like it changed all of our lives, it could not help but have an effect upon writers, producers, directors, actors. Our season three was a direct response to it. The Xindi arc. Trip’s sister dying in this attack on Florida. I’ve spoken with Brannon Braga about this, and he says 9/11 changed our show. It couldn’t help but.

Pop culture is sort of a fluid thing that is affected by the hardscrabble that happens throughout the world at any given time. Like you said, the 60s with the original series, and every one of them had some element of politics and world events affect them, and the biggest one in my lifetime had a direct impact on our show. I don’t know what it would have been like without it.

When the whole thing happened, we had just started. And at that time I imagine a lot of people were going through a similar thing I was, which was like, ‘What am I doing? I’m an actor, and blah blah blah, who cares? But the world’s changed, and how am I going to be a part of it?’ I remember struggling with this idea that I’m just an actor on a TV show.

And I had a conversation with my father and I expressed these things, and he said, “I actually disagree with you. I think that what you’re doing is absolutely important, and vital, and especially right now, because you’re giving people a way to escape a bit. And you’re doing it in a way that is Star Trek, with that human message, and humanity, and what we can offer to the world and to the universe. And you actually have a responsibility now that you didn’t maybe have before this happened.”

And that really helped me put it into context and made me feel that I was making a difference.

TM: That’s a wise father you’ve got there!

CT: Indeed he is! (laughs) And he was right. And I’ve heard as much since then, I encounter all these people at conventions and anytime I go somewhere, there’s always someone, or several people, who tell me how the show—sometimes my role in particular—affected, changed, and some said saved their lives from whatever they were going through at that time. You know, you really value and hold on to those messages people send you.

Watching the Xindi attack on Florida in “The Expanse”

Trip Tucker or bust!

TM: Let’s move on to something easier, and lighter…

CT:  My favorite color is blue!

TM: Noted! If you could play any character on any of the series, who would you pick?

CT:  I got to play the right guy for me. I really believe that. I hit the lottery with Trip. He had so much going on with him as we went along throughout the series and so many things put in front of him. Real dynamic storytelling was the plate that I ate off of every day. I would not trade having played Trip Tucker for any other part.

“Bounty,” from Enterprise ‘s second season

Trip Tucker, a  Star Trek: Discovery hologram?

TM: Do you know what they would have done your character with more seasons? You died, but they said that would not have been the case had the show come back .

CT:  I’d almost died a couple of times before that anyway. It’s science fiction, nobody ever really dies in science fiction. (laughs)

I would think that the events that occurred in the finale would not have happened. I imagine that, I don’t know that for a fact. One of the things they had to do was to involve us into the web of the history and the chronology of the show. And one of the ways they did that was by making sure the Captain lived. And why they did what they did, I don’t know.

What would have happened? He would have boldly gone on!

TM: He could go on to Discovery . He could show up there, it would work.

CT:  Anything can happen! I’ve thought about this. I’m like, “Could I be like Obi Wan, or R2D2, or Princess Leia, when they do a little video presentation of certain things you need to know, and all of a sudden Trip’ll pop up?”

He’s dead at that point, but you know … I think it would be no problem whatsoever to incorporate the soul of Trip Tucker into something.

Tucker shares a final drink with Archer in Enterprise finale

If you are in the NYC area you can see Trinneer this Wednesday at the National Museum of Mathematics . For more information on the event visit their “ The Math of Khan ” event page.

Not sure if you should invest in the Star Trek: Enterprise  Blu-ray box set? Read our review .

Related Articles

Conventions/Events/Attractions , ENT

Connor Trinneer And Dominic Keating On “Disrespectful” ‘Enterprise’ Finale And Eagerness For More Star Trek

Conventions/Events/Attractions , Review

The Star Trek: The Cruise VII—A Voyage Like None Other

Conventions/Events/Attractions , Documentary , ENT , Star Trek: Picard , Trek Franchise , Trek on TV

‘Enterprise’ Cast Talks Series “Death Knell,” Crusher Family Comedy Hour, And More Star Trek Cruise Day 4

Celebrity , ENT

‘Star Trek: Enterprise’ Executive Producer Manny Coto Has Died

It’s sort of a tradition to have someone from the previous series in the pilot of the new one! I hope they will go on with that tradition! T’Pol for example.

That would be pretty cool – total fan service and unnecessary, but still cool :)

Nope. Clean Break. From a marketing standpoint, bringing fans of the new films in would be the only thing that makes sense (aren’t they doing that with one of the characters?), but I wouldn’t even do that. I never liked the McCoy cameo that was shoe-horned into TNG. Pointless. It was this kind of thinking that got us GENERATIONS. Now if there’s some organic storyline that necessitates bringing in a character from ENT, and it makes sense to use the original actor, then I’m all for it. But the reality is this is 100 years after the fact, which makes any of these characters ridiculously old — not sure how old Topol is supposed to be, but I’ve already seen her ridiculously aged, and I’m not really interested in seeing that repeated. Clean break.

Same here. At least having Spock (Leonard Nimoy) in the 2009 and 2013 movies was a good idea, as he was a scientist, and had a good reason to be a time traveler. T’Pol would / might be okay to see as Vulcans live long lives, but you’re right about that aspect.

T’Pol would be great and yes, logical! Or would love to see Archer….and quite upset his prized poodle is still nowhere to be found. ;)

Killing trip was a terrible mistake. Why kill the best character? Apparently they learned nothing from the ‘Bridge on the Captain’ debacle and the ‘franchise killing’ death of Data?

That entire episode was misguided. What a horrible mistake to canon. Thank you Branon Braga, probably the worst thing to happen to Trek since Rick Berman.

He may have to put on a couple of pounds to hit ‘W’, but the resemblance is there.

Trinneer was great in the role of Trip. He, possibly Park, were the only ones who delivered personality to their roles that didn’t feel forced.

My wife and I met Connor in New York at Mission 50. Our dog, named Trip, after Connor’s character, had recently passed away from cancer. We brought a picture of Trip, for Connor to sign. I explained that Trip WAS our dog and placed the picture in front of him to sign. Connor looked at us for a moment, and I think he was about to decline our request. He paused a moment and then asked: “Did you say this WAS your dog?” We explained how Trip was named after his character on Enterprise and how much we enjoyed the show. He then became incredibly friendly, asked us about our dog and signed the picture. He’s truly a great human being.

I’d rather see Trip show up on Discovery instead of Harry Mudd.

That was a nice story. And yes I too would like to see him on Discovery instead of Mudd. And sorry about Trip. :(

An elderly Trip showing up to pass the torch (as it were) in the first episode of Discovery… with no explanation as how he’s not dead… would be enough to melt the internet.

Yes! Although it would be total fan service and a little bit of a stretch – as an ENT fan myself, I personally think having Trinneer make a brief surprise cameo in the first episode of Discovery as an elderly Trip giving some advice to the Discovery or Shenzhou’s chief engineer without any explanation as to how he is still alive would be as good as a capstone fifth season for ENT. Just think of it – he would give a sly wink and say “Expect the unexpected, Chief. After all, anything is possible out there,”. That line alone would both (a) re-energize Star Trek’s mission statement about courage in exploring the unknown, and (b) give all us ENT fans an open-ended answer/conclusion about how Archer, T’Pol and the rest of the ENT crew must have gone to the farthest reaches of known space to find a way to get Trip back from the dead after all.

I don’t read many ST novels but I read one where Trip wasn’t actually dead and they explained that painstakingly. I forget the machinations that were necessary, probably because it was complicated.

Read what he says! He thinks he should be in an instructional video or something.

Been waiting for Trinneer to guest on Backula’s NCIS:NOLA – isn’t it about time?

He may not want to do that, or Backula may not want him to do that.

Conner is great in person, we met him a few times at the Vegas Cons in the past few years. I sat with at talked with him at one of the bars for 30 minutes and had a couple of drinks. He sat down at a let it ride poker table where my wife was playing and asked her to teach him how to play the game. He is always friendly and easy to talk to, he never gives you the impression you are bothering him.

Kinda curious why he says he’s from Kelso when he was born in Walla Walla. Then again,I don’t really know the difference,if they are two separate cities or one is the main city in the other,lol! I’ve met him a few times,great guy! And loved his character on STE.

Connor was born in Walla Walla, which is pretty much on the opposite side of the state from Kelso. He told me during a visit to Yakima, Wash., last fall that the family moved to Washington’s “Tri-Cities” when he was a few years old, then eventually to Kelso. FYI: Adam West also grew up in Walla Walla … but was born in Seattle.

David G.- thanks for the clarification. Been meaning to ask him about it whenever I see him but always forget as we end up talking about his PLU days and his son,lol! He went to PLU with someone I know from Portland.

I heard about Adam West as well,but that he was born in Walla Walla too. Guess I have to check that one,lol.

That was a fun interview. Nicely done, Trek Movie staff!

I still hope that CBS will ENTERPRISE will return for a movie or series to conclude the story.

Connor Trinneer engineers sci-fi success after Star Trek

By mike poteet | jun 29, 2021.

Connor Trinneer has played angels, aliens, and more since Star Trek.

An expert engineer who’s intellectually curious, full of awe at the universe’s wonders and an indomitable “can-do” attitude, and deeply loyal to his friends, Charles “Trip” Tucker III proved one of the most popular characters on Star Trek: Enterprise .

Actor Connor Trinneer brought such energy, humor, and warmth to the role that Trek fandom refused to accept Trip’s death in the series’ divisive finale. Thanks to Section 31’s machinations , Trip is alive and well, albeit incognito, in multiple Enterprise continuation novels.

But what has Trinneer himself been up to in the nearly 20 years since Trip stopped tending the NX-01’s engine?

He’s been in a Tom Cruise movie, for one, showing up as a young George W. Bush in American Made (2017). And he’s been a frequent face on TV, with guest roles on such popular shows as Numb3rs , NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles , The Mentalist , Pretty Little Liars , and The Resident .

Since 2018, Trinneer has had an occasionally recurring role as prank-prone Jessie on the first responder procedural drama 9-1-1 .

In his first appearance, Jessie had to be extracted from a microwave that had been cemented to his head, according to 9-1-1.fandom.com. (Sounds like an engineering challenge Trip would have appreciated!)

But he has also made many memorable marks in genre projects. So let’s take a warp five tour through the science fiction, fantasy, and horror roles Connor Trinneer has played since Enterprise ended its run.

Recommended

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to copy URL

Tom Cruise’s Scientologist son Connor, 28, makes rare public appearance to support dad in NYC

• View Author Archive
• Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Tom Cruise and son Connor made a rare appearance together in New York City Saturday.

The “War of the Worlds” star and his 28-year-old son, whom he shares with ex-wife Nicole Kidman, stepped out in the big apple for a promotional event for Tom’s upcoming film “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning.”

Tom wore a black button-up with blue jeans and black shoes. He completed the simple look with reflective aviator sunglasses and a silver wristwatch.

The “Top Gun: Maverick” star’s son also dressed casually for the event, wearing a gray collared shirt with blue jeans and sneakers.

The actor’s sister Lee Mapother also tagged along with the father-son duo.

Tom and Connor have made a handful of public appearances together in the past, including a 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers game in San Francisco, Calif.

Tom, 61, also shares daughter Isabella with Kidman, 56, whom he was married to from 1990 to 2001. They adopted Isabella and Connor in 1992 and 1995, respectively.

As for Tom’s son, the “Seven Pounds” star seems to lead a low-key life outside of the spotlight.

Connor appears to enjoy fishing and playing golf in Florida. He also avoids posting photos of his A-list parents on his social media.

Isabella, who goes by Bella, also stays relatively under the radar . She moved from Los Angeles to live with her husband, Max Parker, in London.

After Tom and Kidman divorced, the two kids chose to stay with their dad in Los Angeles while the “Big Little Lies” star resided in Australia.

In 2018, Kidman made a rare statement about her relationship with her children.

“I’m very private about all that. I have to protect all those relationships. I know 150 percent that I would give up my life for my children because it’s what my purpose is,” she told Australia’s Who magazine .

She also remarked on her children’s decision to pursue Scientology like their father. The actress left the church in the ’90s.

For more Page Six you love…

• Listen to our weekly “We Hear” podcast
• Shop our exclusive merch

“They are able to make their own decisions. They have made choices to be Scientologists and as a mother, it’s my job to love them,” she said, adding that Connor and Isabella are “adults.”

“And I am an example of that tolerance and that’s what I believe – that no matter what your child does, the child has love and the child has to know there is available love and I’m open here.”

She added that she believes her “job as a parent” is to “always offer unconditional love.”

Meanwhile, Tom also shares daughter Suri, 17, with ex-wife Katie Holmes.

Holmes, 44, and the “Jerry Maguire” star tied the knot in 2006 before splitting up in 2012.

In March, sources told Page Six that Tom and Suri have been estranged for some time.

The insider said Tom had not seen his youngest daughter in a very long time and that he was not a part of her life .

After their high-profile split in 2011, Tom admitted in transcripts from his 2012 defamation lawsuit against Bauer Media that he had not seen Suri for three months after he and Holmes called it quits.

Share this article:

Advertisement

Why Bill Clinton And George W. Bush Are Portrayed In A Tom Cruise Movie About An Infamous Drug Smuggler

"I just wanted to just sort of say, 'We're not ignorant of those allegations,’” said American Made director Doug Liman. Warning: This story contains SPOILERS.

BuzzFeed News Reporter

Reporting From

Tom Cruise in American Made .

American Made stars Tom Cruise as Barry Seal, a real-life former airline pilot who embarked on a wildly successful cocaine smuggling operation between Colombia and a tiny airstrip in Mena, Arkansas, in the 1980s. Seal's exploits brought him into close contact with infamous figures like Medellín cartel kingpins Pablo Escobar and Jorge Ochoa and Panama dictator Manuel Noriega — and he was abetted, the film argues, by the CIA and DEA.

The most eyebrow-raising moments in American Made , however, come when Seal crosses paths with two other major historical figures: Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

American Made screenwriter Gary Spinelli ( Stash House ) was interested in the Mena, Arkansas, story as possible fodder for a screenplay, and in his research, he kept coming across Seal. Along with Seal's wildly successful drug smuggling operation, and his subsequent cooperation with the DEA as an informant against the Medellín cartel, Spinelli discovered allegations that Seal was also flying missions for the CIA's campaign to support Contra rebels in Nicaragua — all of which transformed into the Iran-Contra scandal, and dominated President Ronald Reagan's second term.

As is to be expected from purported involvement in clandestine operations, Seal's work with the CIA remains in dispute . But in their interviews with BuzzFeed News, Spinelli and director Doug Liman ( Edge of Tomorrow, The Bourne Identity ) said that they were totally comfortable connecting Seal with the CIA based on the basic deduction that Seal could not have pulled off the massive scale of his drug smuggling operation without outside help. "He was flying in and out of the country, unbeknownst to all law enforcement, and it's pretty improbable that he would be able to do that on his own," said Spinelli.

Director Doug Liman and Cruise on the set of American Made .

Seal was murdered in 1986 , by Colombian nationals allegedly carrying out a contract on his life — a fact that, coupled with the fuzzy details surrounding his possible collusion with federal intelligence officials, makes him terrific fodder for a different kind of storytelling, and is ultimately what led the filmmakers to include Clinton and Bush in American Made .

"Barry Seal is like a conspiracy theorist magnet for the left and the right," said Liman.

For example, Spinelli said, "one of the big conspiracy theories around Barry is that he was [George] H.W. Bush's personal pilot, and when Barry was killed, he had Bush's phone number in his back pocket."

Neither filmmaker felt it was appropriate to include that unsubstantiated theory, but they also knew that astute audience members might already be familiar with it. Which is how American Made , which opens Sept. 29, ended up with a scene in which Seal is waiting for a meeting at the White House while sitting next to a young George W. Bush (Connor Trinneer) as they exchange small talk about piloting planes.

"I just wanted to put a little fun thing between Barry and George W. Bush to just sort of say, 'We're not ignorant of those allegations,'" said Liman. "'We're not going to put them in the movie, but we're not making this movie in a vacuum, either.'"

Spinelli said that since Seal reportedly did visit the Reagan White House, he was OK with placing him next to Bush, who also regularly visited the White House when his father was vice president. "You know, there's dramatic license there, but both [Seal and Bush] were pilots, and I just thought it would be a cool moment to have [H.W. Bush's] son meet Barry in the hallway," he said. (Representatives for George W. Bush did not respond to a request to comment.)

Left: An early photo of Bill Clinton, governor-elect of Arkansas. Right: George W. Bush in an undated photo in Arlington, Texas, speaking during a Texas Rangers game.

Seal's connection to Clinton, meanwhile, is even more fraught with conspiracies: Some claim that, as governor of Arkansas, Clinton actively participated with the CIA in smuggling cocaine into the US. Googling Clinton's and Seal's names together produces reams of stories with screaming headlines like "Mena Coverup - Bill & Hillary Clinton's Arkansas Cocaine Operation" and "EXPOSED: Clinton's Trafficked MASSIVE CIA Shipments of Cocaine" and "SNOW JOB: THE CIA, COCAINE, AND BILL CLINTON."

Before American Made went into production, Liman actually cut allegations in Spinelli's original script that the CIA was directly trafficking in cocaine with Seal — in part because, as fate would have it, the chief counsel for the Senate's investigation into the Iran-Contra scandal was Liman's late father, Arthur L. Liman. "My father's deputy said he had looked into those specific allegations and found them so without merit that he didn't even put it in the report to deny it because that gives it some weight," Liman said.

But both Spinelli and Liman understood that, as with the Bush family, they couldn't tell Seal's story and not at least tip their hats to the cottage industry of fringe Clinton conspiracies involving him. So they included a scene in which, after Seal has been arrested by multiple agencies, the attorney general of Arkansas fields a call from then-governor Clinton. Afterwards, Seal is released from custody and immediately whisked away to the White House — the implication being that Clinton had been asked by the Reagan administration to cut Seal loose so he could begin informing for the DEA.

Clinton never appears in the scene — we only know it's him on the phone after the state attorney general calls him "Bill" — but the filmmakers claim that this event, or at least something like it, did happen.

"We knew that somehow Barry was operating with immunity. The CIA was operating with immunity in Arkansas. So there had to have been some involvement of the governor's office," said Liman. "There is a prosecutor in Arkansas who was told to back off. And so we combined that with the fact that the CIA was for sure operating in Arkansas and Clinton was the governor, to condense it down into one specific moment."

Cruise in American Made .

In a 1994 press conference, President Clinton was asked specifically about how much he knew about the CIA's alleged operation in Mena, Arkansas. "They didn't tell me anything about it," Clinton said. "The airport in question and all the events in question were the subject of state and federal inquiries. It was primarily a matter for federal jurisdiction. The state really had next to nothing to do with it. … We had nothing — zero — to do with it. And everybody who's ever looked into it knows that." (A representative for Clinton did not respond to a request seeking further comment.)

While both Spinelli and Liman stand by American Made ’s assertions, they ultimately set out to make an entertaining movie — and by having Seal narrate his own story, they can couch their narrative in his subjective point of view. "He really is telling you his version of it," said Spinelli. "What the facts are of the record don't matter as much as what Barry thought had happened."

"Nowhere does the film deal with the consequences of Barry's actions," added Liman. "Barry doesn't tell you the part of the story where, say, American inner cities are being decimated by the influx of drugs. That's not part of Barry's narrative. … We're not making a biopic. We're more interested in the mechanics of how an operation like this works, and the kinds of people that get involved. Because it's really fun." Particularly when it potentially involves former presidents.

Thumbnail photo credits: Bettmann / Bettmann Archive; David James / Universal Pictures; Rich Pilling / Getty Images

Topics in this article

Tom Cruise made a rare public outing with his son Connor for a 'Mission Impossible' event in New York

• Tom Cruise and his son Connor made a rare public appearance together in New York on Saturday.
• The two were photographed on their way to an event for Cruise's new "Mission Impossible" film.
• Cruise shares two children with ex Nicole Kidman: 28-year-old Connor, and 30-year-old Isabella.

Tom Cruise made a rare public appearance with his son Connor in New York on Saturday, and Cruise's older sister also tagged along for the outing. 

According to Entertainment Tonight's Jackie Willis , Cruise, Connor, and Cruise's sister Lee Mapother were photographed heading to an event at the AMC movie theater in Times Square on Saturday. The event was reportedly to promote Cruise's new film "Mission Impossible — Dead Reckoning." 

Related stories

Photos obtained by Entertainment Tonight show Cruise in a black collared shirt, dark-wash jeans, and sunglasses, while Connor was seen in a gray polo, jeans, and sneakers. 

Cruise shares Connor, 28, with his ex-wife Nicole Kidman. The couple, who were married from 1990 to 2001 , also adopted 30-year-old Isabella.

Isabella and Connor have both kept a lower profile in recent years, but Connor and Cruise were spotted at a Los Angeles Dodgers game in 2013. 

Like their father, both Connor and Isabella are Scientologists , at least according to a 2018 interview Kidman did with Australian magazine Who. 

"They have made choices to be Scientologists, and, as a mother, it's my job to love them," Kidman said in the interview . "And I am an example of that tolerance and that's what I believe — that no matter what your child does, the child has love and the child has to know there is available love and I'm open here."

• Main content

• Booked Guests
• Join Mailing List

Experience The Un-Conventional Voyage

Crew members, federation advisors.

And more to be announced...

Boldly Exploring….

Star Trek: The Cruise is returning to the Caribbean in 2024, and we’ve set a course for two new exotic and exciting ports of call — Aruba and Curaçao — with stars from every dimension of the Star Trek galaxy on a 7-day voyage!

Ports Of Call

Our starship at sea departs from Port Canaveral and makes stops in two beautiful destinations in the Southern Caribbean. Get ready to explore the dazzling white sand beaches, diverse culture, beautiful mountains, vibrant architecture, and turquoise waters of Aruba and Curaçao!

Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas offers the finest combination of luxury accommodations, excellent service & first-class venues for our performances, events and activities. This ship is a destination of its own with more than a dozen bars, restaurants, clubs, lounges, a Vegas-style casino, luxurious spa and expansive pool deck to enjoy with your fellow Trek fans.

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.  More Information

American Made (2017)

Connor trinneer: george w. bush, texan, photos .

Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs

• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos
• User Reviews
• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Where Is Connor Cruise Now? Updates on Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman’s Son Today

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

Fans of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman watched their adopted son, Connor , grow up, but wonder where he is today after he made a surprising career change while living a low-key life away from the spotlight.

Where Is Connor Cruise Now?

As of March 2024, he was still sharing grilling tips on his Instagram page, Connor's Meat Shack . It's believed he still lives in the Clearwater, Florida, area, where the Church of Scientology owns numerous properties, as he is a lifetime member.

When Did Connor Cruise Last Appear in Public?

Connor was last photographed in public in July 2023 in New York City, accompanying his dad to a promotion event for his film Mission: Impossible ​– Dead Reckoning Part One , although he did not pose on any red carpet and stayed behind the scenes.

The former DJ made a rare red carpet appearance on his own in February 2023, when he attended the Diesel fashion show during Milan Fashion Week.

Connor hasn't shared any personal Instagram photos featuring himself since April 2023, where he appeared with a friend in a snapshot showing them on the links at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.

What Does Connor Cruise Do for a Living?

Connor became a barbeque food influencer in March 2021, when he launched Connor's Meat Shack. He shared a video on how to make smash burgers and followed it up with roasted chicken on a spit, Wagyu brisket, ribeye and other meats on a grill.

His page shared numerous photos and videos until January 2022, when after that he appeared to take an extended break. Connor returned with a post on March 6, 2024, showing a photo a barbequed ribs with the caption, "We are still cooking!! Just some fun with the smoker."

What Are Connor Cruise's Previous Jobs?

After taking an interest in deep sea sport fishing, Connor appeared in numerous Instagram photos starting in 2017 on fishing trips in the Gulf of Mexico, Costa Rica and other locales while showing off his prized catches.

Connor's passion for sport fishing continued through at least 2022, which was the last time he showed off one of his biggest hauls, displaying a massive grouper.

The music lover's first major career was as a DJ, which he started doing at the age of 16 in 2011. Connor got some impressive gigs over the years, including San Francisco's The Temple and afterparties for such events as the Terranea’s Celebration of Food & Wine in 2016.

When Did Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman Adopt Son Connor Cruise?

The former couple married on December 24, 1990. Two years later they started their family by adopting daughter Isabella shortly after her birth. Connor was adopted by the pair in January 1995.

Tom filed for divorce in February 2001, citing irreconcilable differences. He listed his date of separation from Nicole as December 21, 2000, three days before their 10th wedding anniversary. The former Hollywood power couple's divorce was finalized in August 2001.

Is Connor Cruise Close With His Father Tom Cruise?

Yes. In addition to supporting his dad's movies, Connor and Tom were seen in rare photos in the stands of game 2 of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants in October 2021.

“Connor and Isabella grew up in the church of Scientology, they’ve been members since they were kids,” a source told People in October 2019, adding the siblings “are completely dedicated scientologists just like Tom.”

“Connor has been able to remain close with Tom because of Scientology,” the insider added.

Is Connor Cruise Close to His Mother Nicole Kidman?

Connor was rarely seen with his mom after his parents' divorce. Nicole opened up in 2018 about how her not being a member of the Church of Scientology seemingly put a strain on her relationship with her adoptive kids, although she loved them unconditionally.

“I’m very private about all that. I have to protect all those relationships. I know 150 percent that I would give up my life for my children because it’s what my purpose is," the Big Little Lies star told Who magazine.

“They are able to make their own decisions. They have made choices to be Scientologists and, as a mother, it’s my job to love them,” she continued. "And I am an example of that tolerance and that’s what I believe – that no matter what your child does, the child has love and the child has to know there is available love, and I’m open here."

"I think that’s so important because if that is taken away from a child, to sever that in any child, in any relationship, in any family – I believe it’s wrong. So that’s our job as a parent, to always offer unconditional love," Nicole added.

Recommended Stories

Nicole kidman’s favorite hair-growth serum is on rare markdown at sephora's beauty insider sale.

Rouge members can snag Vegamour's popular products — or other beauty faves — for 20% off.

NBA playoffs: Timberwolves put Nuggets on notice with Game 1 win sparked by Anthony Edwards' heroics

Edwards' coming-out party continued in emphatic fashion in a Game 1 win over the reigning champs.

No one was airing Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso's WNBA preseason debuts, so an X user livestreamed it

The quality was choppy, but it was better than what the WNBA had.

Canelo Álvarez-Jaime Munguía live updates: Odds, undercard, highlights, analysis

Will Álvarez maintain his dominance, or will Munguía make his mark by defeating him? Follow our live blog for all the latest updates from the Cinco de Mayo weekend showdown.

Bulls' Lonzo Ball picks up $21.4 million option for 2024-25 season amid knee concerns

Ball hasn't played since the 2021-22 season.

Kentucky Derby: Mystik Dan wins in three-horse photo finish, outruns favorite Fierceness in stunning upset

The 150th Kentucky Derby produced yet another magnificent two-minute spectacle.

Why Warren Buffett's billions in cash at Berkshire Hathaway is a bearish stock market signal

Berkshire Hathaway cut its stake in Apple by about 13% as its cash pile hit a record high in the first quarter. A bearish signal all around?

Max Verstappen continues Miami Grand Prix domination with pole in qualifying

Here's how the grid will lineup at this year's Miami Grand Prix.

Threads now lets you control who can quote your posts

Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri announced the update this weekend, saying he hopes it will “help keep Threads a more positive place.” Users can choose to turn off quotes entirely or limit them only to people they follow.

Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting: Warren Buffett talks Apple, AI, Paramount, and more

Warren Buffett took hours of questions from shareholders on Saturday for the first time since the passing of his right-hand man, Charlie Munger.

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

Tom cruise’s ‘american made’ nixed scene with bill clinton getting lap dance (exclusive).

The film draws from a conspiracy theory that implicates both Clinton and George H.W. Bush in a massive operation that involved cocaine smuggling, money laundering and illegal arms exporting.

By Tatiana Siegel

Tatiana Siegel

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Email
• Show additional share options
• Share this article on Linkedin
• Share this article on Pinit
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on Tumblr
• Share this article on Whatsapp
• Share this article on Print
• Share this article on Comment

American Made , opening today, was poised to be the rare movie that could unite those on either side of the political divide. After all, it’s based on the one conspiracy theory that implicates both Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush in a massive operation that involved cocaine smuggling, money laundering and illegal arms exporting.

But those hoping for some Clinton dirt will ultimately be disappointed. The filmmakers decided to cut a scene showing a young Clinton getting a lap dance at an Arkansas strip club. In the script, it’s the moment when the movie’s real-life protagonist Barry Seal, played by Tom Cruise , hatches an idea to enlist Clinton, who was then governor of Arkansas, in the CIA-backed scheme.

Related Stories

'severance' actor tramell tillman joins next 'mission: impossible' (exclusive), dakota fanning says tom cruise has given her a birthday gift every year since 'war of the worlds'.

The scene was nixed from the Gary Spinelli-penned script because the producer and financier, Cross Creek Pictures, wanted to keep the film from being political, according to sources.

Cross Creek declined comment.

The Doug Liman-helmed film’s original title, Mena , also was changed to American Made in an effort to downplay the Arkansas connections. “Mena” references the name of the town in Arkansas that contained a clandestine airfield used to smuggle guns and drugs back-and-forth to Latin America, during Clinton’s watch as governor.                   

Another scene cut from the film would also have implicated Bush, who was then Ronald Reagan’s vice president, in the illegal scheme that sent arms to the Contras and even trained them on U.S. soil in Mena. The scene in the script put the former president in the same room as Seal. According to the conspiracy theorists, Bush was knee-deep in the plot dating back to his days as head of the CIA. Though he appears in the shooting script, he does not appear in the finished film (George W. Bush does make a brief appearance in the film, where he’s portrayed by actor Connor Trinneer). Besides Seal, the real-life character who gets the most screen time is Oliver North (Robert Farrior), the former National Security Council staff member who was convicted in the 1980s Iran-Contra affair. He is depicted in the movie as an unambiguous criminal.

Depicting real-life characters on film is always tricky, given the potential for legal action — to say nothing of portraying two former presidents in Bush Sr. and Clinton. The filmmakers apparently had more leeway in the case of North since he was convicted, though his conviction was later vacated and reversed and all charges against him were dismissed in 1991.

THR Newsletters

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Ucla leadership under scrutiny over slow response to attack on pro-palestine encampment, respectability expands entertainment lab from six weeks to five months, president biden to award michelle yeoh, phil donahue and mike bloomberg the medal of freedom, nicholas galitzine on “setting boundaries” and not engaging with the “toxic parts of hollywood”, tiffany haddish started fake social media account to find and call trolls: “people think they can just say whatever”, new hollywood-backed israeli restaurant opening at fraught moment hopes to “transcend politics”.

Connor Cruise: Tom Cruise's 'incredibly loyal' and 'very well-liked' son lives a low key life

L OS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tom Cruise , the Hollywood superstar, is said to have an unwavering pillar of support in his son, Connor Cruise.

Corner was the second child adopted during Cruise's marriage to Nicole Kidman on January 17, 1995, shortly after his birth after Bella Kidman Cruise, now 31, who was adopted on December  22, 1992.

Connor, now 29, leads a quiet life in Florida. Despite his low-profile lifestyle, he often accompanies his father on promotional tours worldwide, reflecting his "incredible loyalty" to his father, reports Daily Mail.

Connor Cruise's  life away from the limelight

Connor reportedly chose to live with Tom following his parents' divorce in 2001. Raised in the Church of Scientology, Connor and his sister, Bella, maintain a close relationship with their father.

However, their relationship with their mother, Nicole Kidman, appears strained as they have not been seen in public with her since 2007.

Connor lives in Clearwater, Florida, within a Scientology community, dedicating much of his time to fishing.

"Connor has a pretty simple life in Clearwater," a source told People in 2018, adding "He lives in his own home in a Scientology community. His life is deep-sea fishing. He has a lot of friends and seems very well-liked."

Tom Cruise's son Corner Cruise has a passion for fishing and love for music

Connor's Instagram account gives a glimpse into his life where he occasionally posts pictures of his impressive catches.

He also runs a separate account dedicated to his barbecuing business, Connor's Meatshack.

An avid deep-sea fisherman, Connor attributes this passion to his travels with his parents during childhood.

"We used to go fishing a lot when I was a little kid," he told People in 2016. "I was blessed to travel the world as a young kid and now I'm traveling the world working," he added.

Connor Cruise's close bond with Tom Cruise and sister Bella Cruise 

Despite his modest lifestyle in Florida, Connor remains incredibly close to his father, Tom, and has been spotted in public with the Hollywood titan as recently as last summer.

In July 2023, Connor was seen alongside his aunt, Tom Cruise's sister Lee Ann, supporting him in New York during the promotional tour for the latest 'Mission Impossible' film.

He also maintains a close relationship with his sister Bella who lives in London with her IT manager husband.

As for his relationship with his mother, Nicole Kidman, Connor appears not to interact with her in public and does not follow her on Instagram.

It has previously been reported that, although Kidman and Cruise were awarded joint custody of the children in their divorce settlement, Connor and Bella chose to live with their father and remain members of Scientology.

Nicole Kidman's Life Time achievement award and absence of adopted children 

Nicole Kidman received a Lifetime Achievement Award on April 27, from the American Film Institute.

Kidman was accomplished by her husband, Keith Urban, and their daughters -- Sunday Rose, 15, and Faith Margaret, 13 -- in a rare red carpet appearance at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Expressing her excitement she told ET, that she was happy to be joined by her girls, who "are old enough now to be able to come and know what this is" and also called them "loves of her life."  However, Bella and Corner did not attend it.

Connor tied the knot with his Italian partner, Silvia Zanchi, in a Scientology ceremony in 2019, with his mother conspicuously missing from the event.

While Bella expressed appreciation for her mother's Instagram post about the gong by liking it, Connor did not publicly recognize his mother's achievement.

Despite reported rifts, Nicole has expressed her unconditional love for Connor and Bella, even though they've chosen to be Scientologists. "I know 150 percent that I would give up my life for my children because it's what my purpose is," she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018.

"They have made choices to be Scientologists and as a mother, it's my job to love them," she said. 

Is the Church of Scientology the reason for Nicole Kidman being distant from her elder children?

The church of Scientology may be the reason for the distance between Nicole and her older children as Daily Mail noted. 

It cited ex-Scientology member Leah Remini's book 'Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology' which claims that Nicole was labeled a "suppressive person" by the church after leaving.

Also noting, Ron Miscavige, father of Scientology leader David, has spoken about the "toxic" policy of "disconnection" within the church.

When Connor got married in a Scientology ceremony, Nicole was notably absent due to her status as a "suppressive person."

Connor himself has denied any rift with his mother, noting their strong bond. In Connor's words, "I don't care what people say. I know that me and mum are solid. I love her a lot. My family means everything," he said in 2014.

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's Son Connor Cruise Shares Rare Selfie With Friends

Spotted: tom cruise and ex-wife nicole kidman's son connor cruise, 28, on a day out with pals in florida. see his rare new pic..

Blink and you'll miss it: It's another Connor Cruise sighting.

On June 2, Tom Cruise  and ex-wife Nicole Kidman 's son shared a group selfie with two friends at Belleair Country Club in Florida on his Instagram Stories.

Connor, 28, last posted a pic of himself on his account April 29 . In the photo, he was also seen golfing with a friend at a different county club in the state, where he lives.

Both Connor, a DJ, and his sister, artist  Bella Kidman Cruise , 30, have largely kept out of the spotlight despite growing up with famous parents, and rarely post on social media. Connor is occasionally photographed at fashion events and sometimes attends ballgames with his dad . He also shares Instagram pics of himself golfing, fishing or grilling meats, as well as throwback images of himself and his sister as children.

Connor and Bella are the only children Tom and Nicole, who divorced in 2001 , share together. The  Mission: Impossible actor also shares daughter  Suri Cruise , 17, with ex-wife  Katie Holmes , while the  Big Little Lies actress and husband Keith Urban  are parents to daughters  Sunday Rose Kidman Urban , 14, and Faith Margaret Kidman Urban , 12.

See photos of Connor and Bella over the years:

Connor is seen golfing with friends in June 2023.

Connor goes golfing in April 2023.

Connor appears on a fishing trip in 2019.

Connor attends the Diesel Womenswear Fall/Winter 2023/24 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week in February 2023.

Bella appears in a 2021 selfie.

Connor shared this childhood pic of himself with Bella on Instagram in 2019, writing, "Day 1 homies."

"Throwback time," Connor captioned this childhood pic of himself and Bella, which he shared on Instagram in 2016.

Connor appears on a fishing trip in 2018.

Connor appears at The Pool After Dark at Harrah's Resort in Atlantic City New Jersey in February 2016.

Connor celebrates his 21st birthday at The Pool After Dark at Harrah's Resort in Atlantic City New Jersey in February 2016.

Connor DJs in the booth at Temple Nightclub in San Francisco in January 2016.

Tom and Connor watch the Maryland Terrapins play against the Connecticut Huskies during the NCAA Women's Final Four Semifinal at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida in April 2015.

Connor attends the Emirates marquee during Stakes Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia in November 2013.

Tom and Connor attend Game Four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in October 2013.

The siblings appear at Connor's 17th birthday party benefiting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, at the Hyde lounge at Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) in Los Angeles in January 2012.

Tom, Connor and Jeffrey Katzenberg attend an NBA game between the New Orleans Hornets and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) in Los Angeles in March 2011.

Tom and Connor attend a game between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in June 2010.

Tom and Connor attend Game Two of the Western Conference Finals between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) in Los Angeles in May 2010.

Trending Stories

Madeleine mccann’s parents in disbelief 17 years after disappearance, who whoopi goldberg wants to inherit her $60 million fortune, anna nicole smith's daughter dannielynn birkhead, 17, debuts new look, t.j. holmes & amy robach react to rob marciano's gma exit, former lakers player darius morris dead at 33.

Tom Cruise's bond with 'loyal' Scientologist son Connor, 29, who is only child close to his father

Tom Cruise and his adopted son Connor are share a close bond, with the 29-year-old supporting his famous dad during promotional tours, including one in New York last summer

• 17:38, 4 May 2024

Tom Cruise 's worldwide fame has seen him star in some amazing movies including "Top Gun" and "Mission Impossible" - but little is known about his off-screen life as the actor keeps quiet about his three children.

The Golden Globe winner became a parent while married to Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001. After struggling to conceive, the former couple adopted daughter Isabella in 1992 and son Connor in 1995.

After his first marriage broke down, the actor found love again with Katie Holmes and the pair went on to welcome his only biological child, Suri, who celebrated her 18th birthday last month. Tom missed the celebrations and insiders said he feels "guilty" about it , despite reports claiming he has not been involved in Suri's life for several years.

READ MORE: Tom Cruise rides motorcycle for Mission Impossible after ditching daughter Suri's 18th birthday

Tom's two adopted children, however, are said to have a good relationship with the actor, who raised them within the controversial Church of Scientology. Reports claim the siblings have a rift with their mother as they have not been seen in public with Kidman since 2007.

While Isabella lives in London with her IT manager husband, Connor is based in a Scientology community in Clearwater, Florida, and spends much time with his father, supporting him on promotional tours all around the world .

A source previously said Connor enjoys cooking, fishing and has a lot of friends. They told People : "Connor has a pretty simple life in Clearwater. He lives in his own home in a Scientology community. His life is deep-sea fishing. He has a lot of friends and seems very well-liked."

Connor often posts photos of his catches during fishing trips and also runs an Instagram profile showing off slow-cooked joints of meat he enjoys cooking. According to his Instagram profile, he also enjoys golfing and enjoys days out on the course with his friends.

Apart from living a simple life in Florida, Connor is often spotted in public with his father Tom. Last summer he was also seen in New York with his aunt Lee Ann as they supported Tom during the promotional tour for the latest Mission Impossible film. Sources say Connor is "incredibly loyal" to his father and is also close to his sister Isabella, once describing their relationship as "Day One homies".

Meanwhile, earlier this week Tom's youngest daughter Suri looked all grown up as she stepped out for a springtime stroll in New York City shortly after her famous father ditched her 18th birthday. The soon-to-be high school grad was seen focused on her music as she went for a stroll in the city after just wrapping up her birthday celebrations.

Suri looked comfy and cute for the daytime outing as she stepped out in a cream, tight long-sleeved top with a pair of tight black shorts. She added a touch of colour to the neutral look with a pair of fun pink patterned socks and a bright palm frond-covered tote.

The Mirror has contacted Tom Cruise's representative for comment.

Follow the Mirror US News page on Facebook

All the latest news, showbiz, lifestyle and sports updates, brought to you by our dedicated American team.

Follow the Mirror US News page on Facebook to make sure you're not missing out.

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

MORE ON Tom Cruise Church of Scientology Showbiz Snapchat

Celeb obsessed get a daily dose of showbiz gossip direct to your inbox.